Stars and STEM Stories
GLOBE Estonia: The 29th Learning Expedition Featured One Island, Many Environments
From 10 to 12 August 2026, Muhu Island became an outdoor laboratory for young environmental researchers as GLOBE Estonia held its 29th Annual Learning Expedition. Organized by Muhu Basic School and GLOBE Estonia, the 3-day Learning Expedition brought together 10 research teams to investigate the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and pedosphere of the island.
Muhu was a particularly meaningful location for the 29th Learning Expedition. Muhu Basic School has been part of the GLOBE Program in Estonia since its beginning and has participated in every GLOBE Estonia Learning Expedition. This long-standing commitment has made the school an important part of the history and community of GLOBE in Estonia.
From Learning the Methods to Becoming Researchers
The Expedition began with participants getting to know their research teams and meeting their supervisors. Before heading into the field, the teams first had to learn how environmental research is carried out.
The first day was dedicated to becoming familiar with GLOBE measurement protocols and research equipment. Students learned how to use different instruments, how to make observations and measurements consistently, and why following the same scientific protocols is important when collecting environmental data. It was a day of preparation, practice, and questions — giving each team the skills they would need for the main research expedition.
On the second day, the real fieldwork began. Teams set out to different parts of Muhu Island, turning the island itself into their research laboratory. Although Muhu is relatively small, the research sites revealed a surprisingly diverse environment.
Nine student research teams approached the island from different perspectives. Four teams investigated the hydrosphere, two studied the atmosphere, two focused on land cover (biosphere), and one investigated soil (pedosphere). Together, their research provided a multifaceted picture of Muhu, from its freshwater environments and local climate to its vegetation, landscapes, and thin soils.
The four hydrosphere teams explored the remarkable diversity of freshwater on an island surrounded by the Baltic Sea. Their research sites included a biopond (or wastewater stabilization pond), a quarry, natural springs, a river, and several smaller ponds. Comparing these different environments allowed students to see that even on a relatively small island, freshwater habitats can vary considerably.
One particularly memorable investigation took place at the spring below Üügu Cliff, one of Muhu’s distinctive natural sites. Based on their water-quality investigation, students concluded that the spring water was suitable for drinking — and recommended tasting it. It was a simple but memorable example of how environmental measurements can help answer practical questions about the places around us.
The two student teams focusing on the atmosphere investigated microclimate differences across Muhu. They compared conditions in coastal areas with those farther inland, exploring how proximity to the sea and the surrounding landscape influence local atmospheric conditions. Instead of thinking of weather as something that is the same across an entire island, students could investigate how conditions change from one location to another.
The student teams studying land cover explored Muhu’s characteristic landscapes, including its alvar grasslands and rocky terrain. Alvar grasslands are a distinctive part of the island’s natural heritage, developing on limestone with only a thin layer of soil and supporting plant communities adapted to these special conditions.
The ninth student team took the investigation beneath the surface, studying the soils of Muhu’s alvar grasslands. Students could connect what they observed above ground with the conditions beneath their feet, examining the relationship between limestone bedrock, thin soils, and vegetation.
Together, these nine investigations encouraged participants to see Muhu as one interconnected environmental system. The sea influences local climate; water moves through and shapes the landscape; soil conditions affect vegetation; and land cover reflects the interaction of many environmental factors. Through fieldwork, these connections became something students could observe and measure themselves.
Turning Research into Stories
After an intensive day in the field, the third and final day was about making sense of what had been discovered — and finding a way to share it with others.
Instead of preparing traditional research presentations, student teams turned their results into videos. They worked together to analyze their observations, select their most interesting findings, and communicate their research in an engaging and understandable way. The finished research videos will be published in September, allowing the results of the Learning Expedition to reach an audience well beyond the participants on Muhu.
The Expedition did not end only with data analysis and video editing. The final day also included the playful GLOBE Games, where participants put their knowledge, teamwork, and GLOBE skills to the test in a more lighthearted setting. After days of careful measurements and serious research, the Games brought everyone together through friendly challenges and fun.
Alongside the nine student teams, one research team was made up of teachers. By taking part in the research process themselves, educators had an opportunity to experience fieldwork from the same perspective as their students, test GLOBE methods, and exchange ideas with colleagues. This combination of student research and teacher collaboration helps strengthen the network of GLOBE schools and educators in Estonia.
A Tradition That Continues
For nearly 3 decades, GLOBE Estonia’s Learning Expeditions have brought science out of the classroom and into the environment. Students do not simply hear about environmental research — they become researchers themselves.
The 3 days on Muhu reflected that process from beginning to end. First, participants learned the protocols and research tools. Then they took those skills into the field, collecting data across the island. Finally, they interpreted their findings and found creative ways to communicate what they had discovered.
The 29th Expedition demonstrated how much can be discovered on just one island. Each team investigated a different piece of the puzzle, but together their work told a broader story about Muhu’s environment.
For Muhu Basic School, the Expedition continued an exceptional tradition. Having been part of the GLOBE Program in Estonia from the beginning and participating in every Learning Expedition, the school connects the program’s history with its future.
And as another generation of students explored Muhu with measuring instruments, research questions, and curiosity, the central idea of GLOBE came alive once again: the best way to understand our planet is to step outside, observe it carefully, collect evidence, and learn together.
Learn more about GLOBE Estonia.
Story courtesy of Laura Altin, GLOBE Estonia Country Coordinator.
Photo courtesy of Marlen Kirsel, GLOBE Expedition Organizer.